Family Visit 2024

 

I am still coming down from the high of our children's annual visit. Even though it was a big, loud, messy, noisy, endless-food-eating week, I miss everyone. Steve went out of town the day after the children left. His absence magnified the emptiness in the house. I found purpose in getting the rooms back in order, washing the floors, doing laundry, and having an occasional nap. 

The shoes lined up at the back door have disappeared. The wind has blown the big leaf pile across the field and the trees are suddenly bare. While I knock about the empty house I recollect their voices: the grandchildren calling my name, daughters discussing plans, a child asking for a drink, a snack, or a baggie to hold nature finds. The fullness of that week carries us happily back into our busy routines.

The trees and leaves provided a week of endless play.

Little guy's homemade owl costume

Trick-or-Treating in town

Mummy game at Aunt Tess's Halloween party

We always have a bonfire.

Ready to walk to the vineyard with daughters #3, 2, 1, and 4.